Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2015 record →
Engine seized at the light. i was stuck in the middle of a 6 lane road located in greenville midnight. engine can cause a fire and burn up while i’m inside. the problem was confirmed by a test machine by the mechanic “Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1)” no warning lights at all! … the traffic light was red and once it turned green i let off the brake and then it shut off
When driving it suddenly won't pull a hill. It will slow down to 20-30 mph even on an interstate. I've had it in the shop several time and they can't find anything wrong. It did it again and I took it in and the mechanic told me there was a recall on the computer system but I can't find it. If there's a recall please let me know at [XXX] . Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine shuts off while driving
I purchased a 2015 Kia Forte5 car (Pearl White) used but I noticed the paint peeling. It seems to be getting worse because the same spot is getting bigger and now a new spot on the top has appeared. I took the car to a body shop and was told it was a factory paint defect. I went online and saw that Kia and Hyundai had a factory issue with the pearl white paint for several years around my car year model. I was wondering if the paint chipping can be fixed or me compensated for the repairs. The damage is on the rear hatch and passenger side top of car next to sunroof. One is about a quarter size and the other a little smaller than a dime. Thanks in advance, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The engine in my car began failing at 60,000 mile despite having all maintenance records. The KIA dealership expressed that this is happening to many similar cars and a recall was issued for a similar engine to mine with the same issue. They expressed that the engine could seize up while driving and cause a wreck unless I purchase a new/used one to put into my car. Again all routine maintenance was kept up to date.
My vehicle was broken into and there was an attempt to steal the car. I made a police report and they expressed that the car would have been driven recklessly and potentially crashed if it was stolen. The safety issues with KIA fortes have become a huge issue nation wide and the cars should be recalled to have standard security installed that a majority of other cars already have equipped.
Car has same issues for 4 years, shaking, stalling, loosing speed while driving. Check engine light on. Light knocking noise while driving can’t go above 45 miles an hour. Also 3 times car smelled like electrical burning. But was told by Kia nothing wrong with engine
The car keeps stalling out while stopped. No check engine lights or anything . It will then sit for a minute ot two then start back.
My daughter was driving it and all of a sudden the engine light came on then the oil it started to loose power so she pulled over right away so we had it towed to a mechanic and the motor needs to be replaced. We never had problems at all with it until then its been well taken care of.
Three years ago, I took my car to 2 separate kia dealers regarding the knocking in engine. Both said it's "normal". I told them then that they wouldn't sell the car with it knocking. I was contacted in 2022 by credit karma of a safety recall regarding brakes. Another recall was from kia regarding safety from vehicles easily being stolen. I cleared these 2 safety recalls on my vehicle, but I am still being told nothing is wrong with the knocking I hear under the hood. My vin# states my car isn't affected, but I think it is. My brand of car should be included in this recall. Thank you
Going down an incline the brakes can go to the floor. Usually if the pavement is a little bumpy. It’s like you loose all braking.
Engine failure. I was stopped at a red light and when I pressed the accelerator to go, I didn't realize the engine shut down. I had to have the car towed and learned a day later of the engine recall for the 2015 Kia Forte EX 5
My engine blew up. It should be included in the recall but it says its not for the 2012-2015 kia forte.
AIRBAG WARNING IS ON, BUTTONS/CONTROL OF THE WHEEL DONT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. MOTOR SHAKES A LOT. WE GOT THIS CAR 2-3 WEEKS AGO LIGHT WAS NOT ON WHEN WE GOT IT FROM THE DEALER. IM NOT AN EXPERT BUT I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... IM DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after several oil changes, he noticed that the vehicle was consuming and excessive amount of engine oil. Following a visual inspection, the contact stated that he noticed the engine was leaking oil and making an abnormal sound. The check oil level warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Car lost power, stalled in traffic at a stoplight on a slight incline, rolled back into another vehicle. Have been having repeated problems with stalling. Have taken it to 3 dealerships, none of whom have done anything beyond oil changes. They've even refused to scan it. Kia says it should be under warranty for a new engine after KSDS update, then says it's not. We've been lucky not to have injuries so far because it's done this stalling thing multiple times in traffic.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for service, the local mechanic informed the contact that the engine sounded rough. After performing a diagnostic test on the vehicle, the mechanic informed the contact that the engine was faulty. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who confirmed that engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 140,000.
ENGINE LITE CAME ON CAR RUNNING ROUGH... GOING TO KIA DEALER TO CHECK FOR THE KSDS MODULE ...SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED IN 11/2021
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear driver's side brake light failed. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she previously replaced the rear driver’s side brake light three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear driver’s side taillight brake wiring failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs, coils, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
Trunk leakage, affecting the inside carpet floor, front and back area and the back seat every time it rains. As a consequence mold forms (white spots of powder like/mold) I inform the dealership but they said that’s not in the recall list. And they ask to go to a body shop.
Kia issued recall to inspect/repair potential corrosion of brake lines. Dealer inspected car on 12/8/22 and advised repair/replacement was needed and parts would be order. Now almost 2 months later and still no part. Dealer states back ordered. Complaint filed with Kia customer service and no meaningful response. In fact other than acknowledging complaint no response whatsoever. Yet Kia advises this is a potential safety issue and should be repaired ASAP so as to avoid accidents/damage, etc.. Kia cannot or will not provided any information regarding parts availability and subsequent required repair. If transportation is needed we are forced to drive a vehicle with known safety issues because of manufacturers lack of response.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking with an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle started to stall, and the contact shifted to neutral and turned off and restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) and the contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 158,949.
I start to notice the lamp as well as a knocking sound in October of 2022 I was concerned so I took it to a local mechanic and was told that this particular model car was on a recall for engine fire hazard. He then advised me to call the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. I then called them to let them know what is going on with the car, the employee tells me they can't do the work and referred me to another dealership that's a larger facility. To my knowledge of doing research, I then found out that the engine can catch fire when shut off or in process of being driven so it's very dangerous regarding me and my family. I then called the dealership and they asked for my VIN number, they then tell me yes, this car has 3 different recalls that are showing, and I made an appointment to have it inspected on Jan 2 of 2023 and I took my car to the dealership, and they confirmed I need a new engine. They then told me they will not repair my vehicle. I've never gotten anything in the mail stating there was a recall on any of the parts for my KIA 2015 until the knocking from the engine and the lamp coming on and was told by a local mechanic that there's a recall on this model.
Was driving to work and heard a sound of metal as if something fell from the car. Looked back in my rear view to see a trail of fluid. Pulled over immediately and the car started to stall out at the same time. Called a tow. They advised to contact police and fire in case it was gas. Fire department came and confirmed it was oil. I had gotten my oil changed two weeks prior at valvoline. Towed the car home where it sat. Called valvoline and they sent a technician to confirm the oil dispersed throughout the engine bay. Lifted the car to redo the oil change and witnessed oil leaking from the engine with no seals/caps missing. Towed to a local mechanic where it was found that a bearing went out- rod shot through the engine. Confirming the noise I heard last week. When looking through KBB - showed recall for Forte engine issues 2012-2015. Case started with KIA
Received inspection letter dated 8/19/22 from Kia to inspect/replace if necessary brake line. First available appointment was 9/27/22. Inspection revealed a severely rotted brake line and invoice notation that vehicle is unsafe to drive. I contacted 3 other Kia dealerships and was given the familiar response that the parts are on back order with not estimate time for arrival. I contacted Kia customer service for a remedy but experienced hour long wait on hold only to be disconnected. Several attempts later customer service suggested I seek an off dealer shop and pay for the repair and be reimbursed by Kia. I was not able to get service through a third party either. I was assigned a case number 15188053 but no viable resolution.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed at night, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated approximately a second before the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to a spun bearing inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that she pushed the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact made the dealer of the recall campaign and was informed that the recall repair had been performed prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that she was responsible for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
Kia recalled my brake line but won’t fix claiming parts in Korea on back order going on months. They took pics of corrosion. They said if something happens it’s my fault.
Car has an electrical problem battery keeps draining changed alternator fuel pump starter and battery and still something draining the battery
Engine Oil over pressure caused my oil filter to explode oil in to my engine compartment. Destroyed my engine as well. My car is not listed in the recall list for cars with this exact same problem.
I received a recall notice from KIa Corporation notifying me of a recall for brake lines rusting on my car and told me to take it to dealer to have issue inspected. If found to be in need of replacement they would be replaced at no charge to me. I took the car into dealership and they took photos of the rusted brake lines and informed me they would be replaced by KIA at no charge. That was on September 14 2022. Dealership told me the parts would come in the week following and they would call me. They never called and I called them weekly and they told me on the last call that KIA did not have the parts and they did not know they would receive them.
The oil plug in my vehicle came out on it's own after parking. The oil fell out of my vehicle. An oil change was then done and too much oil was put back in. Another oil change was done a few days later to fix the excessive amount of oil the Kia service department put in and when they were prepping for it, they noticed that the oil plug was finger tight and on the verge of falling out again. The engine is ruined according to the Kia dealership. No warning lamps came on during this process until the oil plug actually came out of the vehicle. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership and a third party mechanic. Within two weeks, my oil plug came out completely once and almost fell off another time. The dealership is refusing warranty coverage and recommending I do NOT file a complaint on the vehicle malfunction.
Brake lines failed while driving. All of the brake fluid leaked out while driving making this a dangerous situation. Brake light came on and loss of all brakes came next. Had it towed to a service station where it was confirmed the brake lines had rusted causing the leak. This is a known issue for Kia and they have issued a voluntary recall. This should be made a mandatory recall ASAP.
While driving the vehicle is completely shuts down without warning and stalls in the middle of traffic. It is a danger to safety do to risk of getting hit. There are no codes and no warnings. It starts back up but stalls again. I had it checked by a mechanic and even he couldn't figure out what is happening.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated when she drove across the lanes to get to the emergency lane the vehicle began to lose motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired by the independent mechanic but was instead towed to the local dealer. The dealer serviced the vehicle and completed an oil change and informed the contact that no fault codes had been retrieved. The vehicle was returned to the contact. The contact then stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sputtering. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer, Lion County Kia (1334 Dreibelbis St, State College, PA 16801) and the contact was informed that a diagnostic test needed to be performed and she needed to pay out-of-pocket. The vehicle failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 136,636.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, she checked the fluids and noticed that the oil was unexpectedly low. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the battery was recharged; however, a diagnostic test was undetermined. The contact then stated that without warning, the engine started to require an excessive amount of oil. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had consumed 3.5 to 4 quarts of oil per 1,000 miles driven. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. The consumer is reiterating the request for a engine replacement at no cost. Further stating the engine had multiple issues which includes failing to start, white smoke coming from the tailpipe of the vehicle, and extreme oil consumption. The consumer is requesting the dealer perform repairs to the vehicle stated in the recall at no expense to the owner.
Engine is making a knocking noise, independent mechanic as well as Kia dealer inspected and said engine is about to fail, which could leave driver stranded or impede traffic. No warning lights are on, vehicle has been regularly maintained.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that his daughter received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) and the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was updated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was reset. However, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Gerald Kia of Naperville (1661 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL 60540), where it was diagnosed that the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was operating as designed and the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the second dealer informed the contact that the first dealer had misdiagnosed the vehicle during the recall repair as the engine should have been replaced then. The dealer filed a claim with the manufacturer and informed the contact that the manufacturer would partially cover the repair. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, however, the manufacturer did not provide any additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
I recently inherited this car from my mother and it appears that the engine may have issues. There is a loud noise that comes from the engine intermittently. It is louder at times then other times. The oil level is fine and recent. I've done a lot of research and it appears this is a common problem for the 2.0 engine. I feel as though this could turn into a bigger scenario if something is not done for the lack of expense a person must put into these engines.
There is a way to remove a piece of the steering component and start the car with a USB (general - doesn't need to be any specific USB, can be an iPhone charger). There are many Kia's being stolen and damaged, some to the point of unrepair. This needs to be recalled ASAP. Many people are getting hurt. They call themselves the "Kia Boys" and it's now a social media trend to steal Kia's. The government needs to step in and force Kia to recall their vehicles with this capability before more people die because of this stupid trend. I'm answering the following questions with what I know from other reports from news; not to my actual vehicle.
Since 2019 I have been having an issue with unknown individuals hacking in to my car and verbally harrasing me while I'm driving. The have yelled at me and at times had clise calls due their disturbance. No matter how loud i raise the volume on the radio, they will yell louder at me. Calling me inappropriate names, talking inappropriatly to me, and multiple accusations, even though I don't know them. Help!
Experienced engine knocking noise when driving on freeways, and it got progressively louder as time went on. brought the issue to the local Kia dealership and it was resolved at the time, but wanted to report the incident so NHTSA can document this. thanks.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 - 20 mph and making a right turn from being idle when the vehicle started smoking from the exhaust of the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned off the vehicle where the smoke began to dissipate. There were no warning lights. The contact had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that there was a leak occurring that could possibly cause an engine failure, however, the specifics of what needed to be repaired were not known. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
I maintain the vehicle on a regular basis and have maintenance records. After recent oil change shortly there after the engine light came on then vehicle cut off. The vehicle towed to shop. The service station stated the vehicle engine seized. The vehicle has 120.000 miles
Engine burning through oil FAST, possible engine fire.
Was just told about recalls for oil leaks and I’m concerned about my daughter driving the car and the engine catching on fire as it seems this has happened to many of the 2015 Kia Forte’s and I haven’t received a recall, but seem to have all the same problems has the people who have had recalls on the same model car.
I was driving and the rear wheel broke off rendering the vehicle not able to be driven and at the same time If I had been on the highway, I could have been killed. In addition 2 wheel bearings were also been found to be defective. When I called NISSAN, the agents stated that this was not the concern of NISSAN and would not pay for the defective parts.
The car started to smoke and caught on fire not even 2 from My house I had called and scheduled a appointment for the recall butt kia set the date to far away I only had the car for maybe 2 weeks not even 150000 miles on it
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2015 Kia Forte → · Every Forte year → · How the figures are calculated →